Death toll from super typhoon Rammasun rises to 17 in China

HAIKOU/NANNING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from super typhoon Rammasun has increased to 17 on Sunday as one more person was confirmed dead in the island province of Hainan.

Rammasun, the strongest typhoon to hit south China in four decades, brought gales and downpours to a number of southern provinces. At least two people are missing, according to local civil affairs authorities.

The latest statistics showed that more than 5.57 million people were affected by Rammasun as it swept dozens of southern coastal cities in Guangdong and Hainan provinces, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Eight people, including two government officials who were in a rescue operation, were confirmed dead in Hainan, while nine others are from Guangxi.

The typhoon seriously damaged power and water supplies, telecommunications networks, ports and roads, making rescue work more difficult.

Hainan, where Rammasun made its first landfall on Friday afternoon, suffered the worst damage.